Palace Malice Headlines Field for $100,000 Alydar Stakes

Palace Malice has been tabbed as the morning line favorite at odds of 5-2 and will be making his second start since returning off of a nine-month layoff in May. A five-year-old son of Curlin, he won the Belmont Stakes (G1) as a sophomore and has a total of seven wins from eighteen starts. Last time out, he finished third in the Diablo Stakes. He has had a recent bullet workout in preparation for his return and will have John Velazquez aboard from post position six.

Well-bred Matrooh making stakes debut

Second choice at morning line odds of 4-1 is Matrooh for trainer Chad Brown. A five-year-old son of Distorted Humor, the bay gelding was purchased for $550,000 as a yearling and has won four of his nine starts. He is stepping up to stakes competition for the first time after winning two consecutive optional claiming races at Belmont Park and will have Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the irons from the outside post.

Bay of Plenty aiming for first stakes victory

Also in the field at morning line odds of 5-1 is Bay of Plenty for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. A four-year-old son of Medaglia d’Oro, he has won four of his eight starts and will be trying to earn the first stakes victory of his career. He is trying to rebound after a ninth-place finish in the Metropolitan Mile (G1) last time out. Joel Rosario will be aboard and they will break from the inside post.